Ghostly Control and a Desperate Defense: Episode 4 of “The Haunted Palace” commenced with the terrifying sight of the eight-foot ghost fully possessing the King. The Blind Shaman writhed in pain as Gangcheori unleashed his lightning upon the possessed monarch. Yeo-ri joined the fray, wielding a shamanic blade, and together they managed to banish the malevolent spirit, freeing the King just as rain began to fall. The King was left in a state of shock, his memory fragmented. In the aftermath, Yeo-ri and an injured Gangcheori found themselves imprisoned. Gangcheori dramatically exaggerated his pain from an arrow wound while Yeo-ri tended to it. He was visibly flustered when she came too close, his heart reacting strongly, which he dismissed as a human weakness.

Refusal to Flee and a Confession: As the ghost mystery deepened, Gangcheori urged Yeo-ri to flee the capital, now that she was a target. However, Yeo-ri refused to abandon Yoon Gap, the only person who had ever truly cared for her. The King confronted Gangcheori, certain he was not Yoon Gap. Tired of the charade, Gangcheori revealed the truth about Kwak murdering Gap and the existence of the eight-foot ghost. Yeo-ri corroborated his story, as did the Queen and the Crown Prince. The supernatural revelation was a lot for the King to process, but Royal Guard Seo confirmed that the King’s behavior during the possession was not his own.

Freedom and a Tentative Alliance: Yeo-ri and Gangcheori were released, but Gangcheori required water to fully heal. He submerged himself in a stream, leading to mutual fluster as Yeo-ri was caught staring at him. As they departed, Yeo-ri unexpectedly offered to be his servant until his ascension. In return, she sought his assistance in destroying the ghost and saving Gap, acknowledging their effective teamwork. However, Gangcheori was enraged by what he perceived as her abandonment of her values, vowing never to serve him for someone as manipulative as Gap. Three days later, the King was shown overseeing Crown Prince Gwang’s studies with the Royal Tutor Kim, who was also Gwang’s great-grandfather.

Royal Schemes and Supernatural Interference: The Queen Mother was surprised by the ghost’s disappearance. She confronted the Blind Shaman, who revealed the presence of a powerful being. He offered to summon the ghost back to eliminate Gwang. It was revealed that the Queen Mother harbored deep hatred for the King and desired Yeong-in on the throne. However, she was also against the ghost’s return, instructing the Blind Shaman only to protect Yeong-in. This angered the Blind Shaman, who inadvertently allowed the ghost to burn Yeong-in’s clothes intended for an anti-possession ritual.

Bickering and a Forced Exile: Back at their dwelling, Yeo-ri and Gangcheori continued their bickering as she attempted to bribe him with candy and a lavish possession feast to accept her servitude offer. He was almost swayed by the candy but ultimately demanded a longevity cord bracelet instead. Meanwhile, someone reported Yeo-ri for conducting a heretical ceremony. With shamanism outlawed, the King was compelled to issue an arrest warrant for both her and Gangcheori. Yeo-ri was later seen with the Drowned Ghost, Mrs. Yoon. Gangcheori was typically rude to the older ghost, sparking another argument with Yeo-ri, who defended Mrs. Yoon. She noticed mud on his shoes just as the guards arrived to arrest them. Yeo-ri insisted she was framed, but the King was offended by what he perceived as her abuse of his leniency. Despite her warning about the eight-foot ghost’s return, the King upheld the law and exiled her and Gangcheori. Yeo-ri anxiously pleaded with Royal Guard Seo to keep the ghostbane stone glasses close to the King. Unbeknownst to her, Gangcheori was unconcerned, as he was the one who orchestrated their exile. However, Yeo-ri resolved to visit Sage Ga-seop, who was looking after Neop-deok’s tools. Gangcheori was annoyed by her persistence, but she reminded him that she was the ghost’s target and needed weapons.

Trauma and Retribution: Meanwhile, Yeong-in was traumatized by his near-drowning experience. When the Queen Mother learned of his actions, she slapped him, berating him for his pathetic inability to handle the consequences. Determined to prove her wrong, he violently attacked the father of Ok-im, the Drowned Ghost. Ok-im could only watch and weep, powerless on dry land.

Unexpected Aid and a Revealing Confrontation: In the woods, a tiger frightened Yeo-ri, but Gangcheori swiftly scared it away with his lightning. As they set up camp, Gangcheori complained about the lack of food, and Yeo-ri offered him candy. Something had been troubling Yeo-ri, and she confronted Gangcheori about the frequent lightning in her village whenever she was alone. He remained indifferent, merely commenting on how he used to ward off dangers near her. Their conversation was interrupted by an old man stealing their candy. Gangcheori pursued him, only to be attacked by a monk. Distracted by the old man finishing the candy, Gangcheori was knocked unconscious by the monk. Upon regaining consciousness, he discovered that the monk was Ga-seop, who was merely protecting the old man, Sage Noh. Ga-seop revealed himself as Yeo-ri’s mentor and disclosed that he had buried Neop-deok’s tools on the mountain peak.

A Drunken Threat and a Ghostly Return: At the end of “The Haunted Palace” Episode 4, a drunken Yeong-in was seen raving and ranting within the palace. Ok-im glared at him, but he threatened to burn her family’s house if she dared to attack him. At that very moment, the Blind Shaman conducted a ceremony, and the terrifying eight-foot ghost reappeared, its malevolent presence descending upon the vulnerable Yeong-in, choking him. For full recap, do check out the link below.

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